The biggest thing that wears clothes out isn’t wearing them — it’s how we wash and store them. Small changes here go a long way.
Washing
Wash less, wash cooler. Most clothes don’t need washing as often as we think.
- Wash at 30°C. It cleans everyday clothes just as well, uses less energy, and is gentler on fabric and colour.
- Only wash when it’s actually dirty. Jeans and jumpers can be worn several times. Air them out instead.
- Turn clothes inside out to protect prints and colours from rubbing.
- Do up zips, undo buttons. Open zips snag; done-up buttons strain the buttonholes.
- Don’t overload the machine. Clothes need room to move to get clean and avoid extra friction.
Why it helps: washing cooler and less often is one of the easiest ways to keep clothes out of the bin — and it cuts your energy bill.
Drying
Air drying is kinder to clothes than the tumble dryer — and free.
- Air dry where you can. That fluff in the dryer filter is your clothes slowly wearing away.
- Reshape knitwear and dry flat. Hanging heavy jumpers stretches them out of shape.
- Dry out of direct sunlight to stop bright colours fading.
- Hang shirts on hangers while damp — fewer creases, less ironing.
Storage
How you store clothes between wears matters as much as how you wash them.
- Fold heavy knits, hang light items. Jumpers sag if hung; shirts keep their shape on a hanger.
- Give clothes room to breathe. A crammed wardrobe creases and crushes everything in it.
- Store clean and fully dry. Damp invites mould; marks attract moths.
- Cedar blocks or lavender keep moths away without strong chemical smells.
Storing for the season? Wash and fully dry first, then keep somewhere cool and dark. Breathable cotton bags beat sealed plastic.
Quick fixes
Tap a problem. The golden rule: act fast, and never put a stain in the dryer until it’s gone.
Got a fresh stain?
Blot, don’t rub — rubbing pushes it deeper. Rinse from the back with cool water, treat before washing, and air dry to check it’s gone before any heat goes near it.
Tea, coffee or wine
Rinse with cool water straight away. A little washing-up liquid worked in gently lifts most of it. Salt on a fresh red-wine spill soaks up the worst before you wash.
Bobbling on jumpers
Those little bobbles are normal. A fabric comb or a disposable razor run gently over the surface shaves them off and your jumper looks new again.
A button coming loose?
Catch it before it falls off. Sewing a button back on is one of the easiest repairs there is — look out for our Fix what’s broken videos, coming soon.
Need a hand locally?
Come to a Swish & Stitch swap or workshop in Southport. Bring something that needs fixing and our facilitator Sharron will show you how — no experience needed.